England duo offer mixed views on KP

Kevin Pietersen's former England team-mates continue to offer contrasting testimony about the help, or otherwise, he has given them.

Eoin Morgan still appears to be scratching his head about the enforced absence of a colleague whose advice he regularly seeks even now.

James Taylor, however, can give no such glowing reference for the superstar batsman with whom he shared a century stand on his Test debut yet who never actually spoke to him.

Both Morgan and Taylor are hoping to force their way back into England's Test match middle order this summer, as a promised 'new era' takes shape under new head coach Peter Moores following last winter's Ashes whitewash.

In the messy aftermath of that 5-0 drubbing, the England and Wales Cricket Board called time on Pietersen's outstanding international career - citing issues of "trust" and "team ethics".

Pietersen appears to have Morgan's confidence nonetheless.

"I still talk to him all the time," said the Irishman, who at 27 has not played Test cricket for more than two years but is central to England's limited-overs plans.

"I've learned a huge amount from Kev. He has been supportive of me since I came in the side."

Morgan believes Pietersen's brilliant batting gave all his colleagues an immediate advantage.

"He's a guy who you bat with and gain a lot of confidence from watching him at the far end," he added.

"He plays a shot that leaves everyone in the field thinking 'there's nowhere to go here' - and everybody in the field drops. That gives you a huge boost. He's been a pleasure to play with."

Morgan is resigned, however, to an England future without Pietersen - who has responded to his axing by agreeing a clutch of lucrative Twenty20 contracts.

Asked if he can understand some England supporters being puzzled by their team's controversial severing of all ties with the South Africa-born batsman, Morgan said: "A little bit ... but again there is not a lot you can do.

"I don't think he will be (involved with England again). He's going to play IPL, Caribbean Cricket League, play for Surrey."

Taylor could perhaps be forgiven for having less fond memories after playing the first of his two Tests alongside Pietersen, especially once reports emerged of unflattering remarks about his own ability.

Taylor made 34 in his maiden Test innings, as he and Pietersen put on 147 together for the fifth wicket against a heavyweight South Africa attack at Headingley in 2012.

Then just 22, Taylor spoke immediately afterwards of the privilege to have batted with one of his sport's greats.

Last week, he said: "I never spoke to KP. He didn't say anything to me."

Taylor has so far played just one more Test, the next at Lord's.

"That particular situation that I batted in didn't ask for anybody to go out and play ridiculous shots or do anything too different to what I did," he said.

"We put on 150. KP was playing the innings of his life at the other end, while I was doing what I needed to do.

"He never said anything to me ... so, it didn't happen ... in my eyes.

"Either way, it doesn't bother me. It's the past, and he never said anything to me."

Morgan is able to give a much more favourable account of a more recent partnership - his first, for Middlesex, with aspirant England batsman Sam Robson.

He is in no doubt either, after sharing a double-century stand with the Sydney-born 24-year-old against Taylor's Nottinghamshire at Lord's, that Robson should open alongside Alastair Cook this summer.

"It's the first time I've ever batted with him, and it was brilliant," said Morgan.

"I thoroughly enjoyed watching him play. He led our innings from start to finish and was the backbone. I was very impressed by him.

"He was very calm at the crease, knew his game inside-out - and his ruthlessness in just wanting to score runs was very impressive.

"I think he has scored a lot of runs and has proved himself that he is in a good enough position to take his place. If I was picking the (England) team tomorrow, I would pick him."

:: Eoin Morgan and James Taylor were speaking ahead of the start of the NatWest T20 Blast season. Blast off is Friday 16th May, tickets can be purchased from www.ecb.co.uk/natwestt20blast